CD Player w/ volume control direct into power amp? | Stereophile.com

You are here

Log in or register to post comments

December 19, 2005 - 12:38pm

#1

Anonymous (not verified)

Anonymous's picture

CD Player w/ volume control direct into power amp?

I am seeking simplicity. All the boxes and wires are driving me nuts. Ideally Linn would make a version of the Classik beefed up in the power (120 watts or more) and stripped of all the non-essential features (radio, timer, multi-room, light dimmer switch, toaster oven...). Lacking that, I see two options in a two-box system - note, this would be purely audio, and does not need to connect to TVs or other sources:

(1) a cd player with an integrated amp, or

(2) a cd player with volume control directly into a power amp (Wadia, Mark Levinson, Linn, and others have players that can do this)

Anyone else out there thinking about this, or better yet, doing it? What are the considerations? What have been the results?

December 19, 2005 - 4:40pm

#2

Anthony Tam

Anthony Tam's picture

Offline

Last seen: Never ago

Joined: Oct 6 2005 - 2:06pm

Re: CD Player w/ volume control direct into power amp?

Numerous manufacturers make excellent CD player + integrated amplifier combinations that are superbly satisfying, at various price points.

The January issue of Stereophile has a review of the Quad CD-P which has a pre-amp/volume control functionality. However, the quality of the variable output is middling. The other players you list are beyond my price range and I have no experience with them.

Definitely not without choices in your quest for a simpler, digital source only system.

December 20, 2005 - 2:05am

#3

Jim Tavegia

Jim Tavegia's picture

Offline

Last seen: Never ago

Joined: Sep 1 2005 - 4:27pm

Re: CD Player w/ volume control direct into power amp?

The very good and simple enough to operate Arcam Solo. See Art Dudley's review.

December 20, 2005 - 6:31am

#4

smejias

smejias's picture

Offline

Last seen: 13 years 2 weeks ago

Joined: Aug 25 2005 - 10:29am

Re: CD Player w/ volume control direct into power amp?

Art's review of the Solo.

December 20, 2005 - 6:17pm

#5

Anthony Tam

Anthony Tam's picture

Offline

Last seen: Never ago

Joined: Oct 6 2005 - 2:06pm

Re: CD Player w/ volume control direct into power amp?

There's also the Audio Analogue Enigma hybrid all-in-one...

However, none of these meets our Anonymous poster's ~ 120wpc requirement(?).

December 20, 2005 - 7:00pm

#6

Jim Tavegia

Jim Tavegia's picture

Offline

Last seen: Never ago

Joined: Sep 1 2005 - 4:27pm

Re: CD Player w/ volume control direct into power amp?

Check out the Wes Phillips review in Jan issue of the Quad Cd player. If you are thinking used, you might check on EBay for a Sony CDP-XA1ES. I sold mine about 1 1/2 years ago and it was a decent player that had fixed and variable out that also controlled the headphone level. New it sold for about $275 I think. Should sell today in good condition for about $75.

June 8, 2006 - 1:21am

#7

eagle

eagle's picture

Offline

Last seen: Never ago

Joined: Sep 12 2005 - 3:28am

Re: CD Player w/ volume control direct into power amp?

The only problem you might have running the cd directly into the amp is likely to be that you don't get as much gain and you might with a preamp. But you'll likely get enough volume anyway.

June 13, 2006 - 3:58pm

#8

dc007

dc007's picture

Offline

Last seen: Never ago

Joined: May 23 2006 - 6:17pm

Re: CD Player w/ volume control direct into power amp?

If you know what it will take in terms of power to bring the amp to full power you can do this. Most CD players with variable outs put out about 2volts. If your power amp can be brought to full power with that or less then you have a good chance of hearing some great sound. I use my SET amp in this fashion frequently. Very open and airy.